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05-09-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE

(May 9, 2006)
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HALLE BERRY HEATS UP WITH
DEL TORO: Stars book roles in
upcoming film "Things We
Lost in the Fire."

    *Halle Berry will star opposite Benicio
Del Toro in a new drama about love, loss
and moving through grief.
       "Things We Lost in the Fire" stars
Berry as a sudden widow who takes
in her late husband's troubled best friend
(Del Toro) to live with her family. As the
friend gets back on his feet emotionally,
he helps Berry's grief-stricken family
deal with their loss.
       Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier
will direct the picture for DreamWorks
and Paramount will distribute. 
Production is set to begin
next month.       
       In the meantime, Berry's next release
will be "X-Men: The Last Stand," due May
26, and the thriller "Perfect Stranger"
opposite Bruce Willis.
 

CINCI COPS BRACE FOR POSSIBLE
T.I. RETALIATION: Authorities informed
that people from Atlanta are looking for
payback.

    *Police in Cincinnati are increasing
their patrols and undercover work after
receiving what they believe are credible
tips of Atlanta folks looking to avenge
the shooting death of rapper T.I.'s
personal assistant.
      Lt. Col. James Whalen said many
sources, including Atlanta-area law
enforcement officials, Cincinnati-area
residents and covert operatives, have
alerted police to possible retaliation
by the artist's supporters based in
his Atlanta hometown. In response,
police have added uniformed and
undercover officers in key areas,
Whalen said.
    As previously reported, a highway
shootout between members of T.I.'s
entourage and another party resulted
in the death of 26-year-old Philant
Johnson from Union City, Ga.  A
female member of the entourage, Janice
Gillespie, 22, of St. Paul, Minn., was
admitted to University Hospital. Two
other men were treated for their
wounds and released.
      Police say the incident was
rooted in an argument that began at Club
Ritz, a Roselawn nightspot that hosted
an after-hours party for the rapper,
following his Tuesday night performance
with Yung Joc at Bogart's in Corryville.
Witnesses said heated words  were
exchanged between the two camps
after people started flaunting their
money.


MTV MOVIE AWARDS BOOK T.I.,
FOXX, LUDA: Network announces
presenters and performers
for June 3rd event.

       *T.I., Jamie Foxx and Ludacris
are among the first round of presenters
announced Monday for the 2006
MTV Movie Awards, to be held 9 p.m.
June 3 at the Sony Pictures Studios
in Culver City, CA, and broadcast
Thursday, June 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
on MTV.
      Also presenting awards will be
Kate Beckinsale, Owen Wilson, Justin
Timberlake, Matt Dillon, Will Ferrell, Kate
Hudson, Rebecca Romijn, Kate Bosworth,
Famke Janssen, John C. Reilly
and Brandon Routh. Actress
Jessica Alba will host
the ceremony.       
       Christina Aguilera has been
booked to perform at the event and
debut music from her new album,
"Back To Basics." Her last MTV Movie
Award appearance was in 2001 when
she was joined on stage by Lil' Kim,
Pink, and Mya for a memorable
performance of "Lady Marmalade"
from "Moulin Rouge." Punk rock
group AFI are also on the
performance bill next month.       
       "Looking at our line-up, stars
from practically every big summer
movie will be at our show. In fact, we
may have to come up with more awards
just to fit them all in," said Joel Gallen,
Executive Producer and Director.
"I'm also excited about Christina
and AFI -- both amazing artists who
will be performing their new hits for
the first time anywhere on the
Movie Awards."        
       The 2005 film "Hustle & Flow" is up
for three awards: Best Performance for
star Terrence Howard, Breakthrough
Performance for Taraji P. Henson,
and Best Kiss for Howard and
Henson.       
        Fans can vote for the entire nominated
cast of the 2006 MTV Movie Awards by
before May 19th, or by texting
"MOVIEAWARDS" to 91757 to receive
a ballot. Voting is also available by
dialing toll free to 1-877-MTV-VOTE.
 

MINN. COLLEGE ESTABLISHES 'ICE
CUBE SCHOLARSHIP': Money to be
awarded annually to outstanding
student.

      *Who knew that a member of
a group called N****s With Attitude - the
very member who wrote "F*** the Police" -
would one day have an actual college
scholarship named in his honor.
      In honor of rapper/actor/producer
Ice Cube's career achievements,
McNally Smith College of Music in St.
Paul, Minnesota has established the
"Ice Cube Scholarship," to be awarded
annually to an outstanding member of
the student body.
       "The opportunity to recognize Ice
Cube's influence on contemporary
music with a scholarship is very exciting,"
said Diane Kruger, Executive VP
of McNally Smith "His passion and
drive set an example for the next
generation of musical innovators." 
       Cube, whose real name is O'Shea
Jackson, visited the campus Thursday
for the formal announcement of the
scholarship. In a Q&A session with
students, he shared how he battles
writer's block, encouraged the students
to follow their dreams and said his dream
hot collabo would be a duet with Prince. 
       One of the nation's leading
contemporary music schools, McNally Smith
also has scholarships named for the rock
band Queen, influential punk bass
player Mike Watt and Motown legend
Diana Ross.
 

JR. GONG DOMINATES WORLD MUSIC
AWARDS: Damian Marley's 'Jamrock' album
and single take top honors.

      *Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley's hit
single "Welcome to Jamrock" and the
Ghetto Youth/Tuff Gong/Universal album
of the same name won top honors at
the 25th Annual International Reggae &
World Music Awards, held Saturday at
the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
      Damian, the youngest son of Bob
Marley, earned awards for music video
and recording artist of the year, as well
as entertainer of the year. He and
his older brother Stephen shared the
songwriter of the year award for
co-writing "Welcome to Jamrock,"
which featured lyrics about the
violent side of Jamaica.       
       Other winners included Hasidic
reggae star Matisyahu for best new
entertainer, Marcia Griffiths for best
female vocalist, Jah Cure for best
male vocalist, Daddy Yankee for best
reggaeton entertainer and Gyptian for
most promising entertainer.       
       Rocksteady star Alton Ellis and
reggae vet Eddy Grant were given hall
of fame honors, while Africa Unite, the
concert held in Ethiopia last year
marking what would have been Bob
Marley's 60th birthday, was named
best concert.       
       Rapper Nas, who guests on
Damian's album, joined the singer onstage
during his performance of "Road to Zion"
and "Welcome to Jamrock." Marley
later welcomed all of the artists back
onstage for a finale of "One Love."
 

RODMAN'S REUNION WITH FATHER
TURNS UGLY: Pops shows up to Worm's
game with camera crew; Rodman felt used.

      *Dennis Rodman, who hadn't
seen his father in over a decade, found
himself face to face with the man recently
during an exhibition basketball game in
Manila. But instead of kisses and
hugs between the estranged pair,
there were only punches.
      According to Rodman's agent
Darren Prince, the athlete's dad,
Philander, showed up at the game "with
a camera crew and an entourage of
eight people and two bodyguards - he
had apparently sold the rights to get
him on camera with Dennis."
      A fight broke out, and Philander allegedly
tried to punch Rodman'sbodyguard, but
missed.
      "Dennis felt used and was angry
as his father has made only one
attempt in 40 years to see or talk
to him, and that was in 1996 when he
wanted the rights to write a book about
Dennis," Prince told the New York Post.
      Undeterred, Philander later went
to Rodman's hotel, with camera crew
in tow, and was promptly chased away
by armed guards. According to Prince,
"hundreds of fans" soon got a whiff of what
was going on and began chanting:
"Get out of here, you deadbeat dad."
 

MARY WILSON PUSHES BILL TO BAN
MUSIC IMPOSTERS: Fake Supremes,
Platters and other knockoffs would lose right
to bear groups' name.

    *Former Supreme Mary Wilson
is sick and tired of seeing groups
booking profitable gigs as The Supremes,
The Drifters or The Coasters, with
nary a member of the original
group in the lineup.
      As chairwoman of the Vocal Group
Hall of Fame's artist board, Wilson
is working to stop such knockoff bands
by promoting passage of the Truth in
Music Advertising Act, which stipulates
that if a performer was not part of
the original recording group, that person
is prohibited from booking and
performing concerts and club appearances
under that name. Perpetrators would
be issued fines of up to $50,000.       
       "These people are defrauding the
public; this is identity theft,"
Wilson tells Reuters. "We make our
money touring, and these people are
taking gigs from us. And some promoters
don't care. If they can pay less for
the bogus group than the original,
they'll do it."       
       So far, Pennsylvania, South Carolina
and North Dakota have passed the
bill, while the legislation waits for
governors' signatures to become law in
Connecticut and Illinois. Several other
states, including New Jersey and
Massachusetts, are also weighing the
matter.       .
       Wilson hopes the legislation will
pass in at least 10 states before
beginning a nationwide campaign to
make the bill federal law.           
        "We want these fake groups to
say they are tribute groups or get
their own name," Wilson says. "Why
steal our legacies? After all your hard
work, no one should be able to come
and take your history."
 

STRIP CLUBS SERVE PURPOSE IN HIP
HOP: Labels step up use of venues to break
new product.

      *Dance clubs are no longer the only
venues in town where record labels can
try out new music. According
to a report in Billboard, producers
are just as likely to cart new records
down to the local shake joint to
generate street buzz.
      "Strip clubs have become the main
breaking place for records, especially
in the South," says Jermaine Dupri,
president of urban music for
Virgin Records.
      With FM radio playlists
becoming harder to crack, labels are
branching out into other arenas to get
new music in the streets. Unlike
radio and dance clubs, where new songs
are dropped into a mix and DJs tend
to play songs that are already popular,
strip joint DJs are able to play
full tracks and can take a chance on
underground and unproven material,
reports Billboard.
       Also, scantily-clad booty shakers
have become synonymous with rap
videos and a distinct part of the genre's
underbelly, which puts strip clubs
among the top venues for reaching
target audiences.         
       "When we work records, we work
lifestyle venues like barbershops,
beauty shops, skating rinks, bowling
alleys -- anything with a culture to
it. And strip clubs fall into that category,"
says Interscope urban
promotion executive Kevin Black.       
       "Word-of-mouth is still one of the
biggest promotion factors out
there," Universal Motown VP of rap
promotion Troy Marshall adds. "That has
helped turn strip clubs into big business."    
      Dupri, who has signed artists
Mannish Man and T. Waters as
a result of his scouting trips to XXX
spots,  believes that "strip club airplay is
(more influential) than radio airplay
in Atlanta."
      "Strip clubs are definitely
a good place to meet people, learn
things and see what's happening in
other people's worlds. I'm probably the
only label president there every other
week," Dupri says with a laugh.
 

ELLA FITZGERALD MUSICAL TO
BLANKET THE COUNTRY: Producers
consider bringing the production to
Broadway next year.

    *"Ella," a new musical about the
legendary Ella Fitzgerald, will
open in nine cities across the U.S.
during the 2006-07 theater season,
reports Playbill.com. 

      Co-conceiver and director Rob
Ruggiero will stage the productions at
not-for-profit regional theatres with Tina
Fabrique (of Off-Broadway's Dessa
Rose) in the title role for each
engagement. There is also interest from
commercial producers to bring the
production to Broadway in 2007, or to
launch a wider commercial tour.        
      "Ella" is set in Nice in 1966, around
the time of the death of her
half-sister, Frances. She attends the
funeral in the States, and returns for
a big concert in France. Conflict arises
between Ella and her producer,
Norman, an off-stage voice who urges
her to engage in patter, or talk to the
audience about her life.  What emerges
from Hatcher's conflict is an
opportunity for Ella to more naturally
reflect on and catalog her past
experience, which includes
a revelation about her son, Ray. 
      The musical will feature more
than 20 of Fitzgerald's biggest hits,
and lesser-known tunes, including "How
High the Moon," "Our Love is Here to
Stay," "They Can't Take That Away >From
Me," "That Old Black Magic," "Cheek
To Cheek," "Blue Skies," "A-Tisket, A-
Tasket," "It Don't Mean a Thing If It
Ain't Got That Swing," "Love and Kisses,"
"Cow Cow Boogie," "Angel Eyes,"
"Mr. Paganini," "The Nearness of You,"
"Miss Otis Regrets," "I'll Never Be
the Same" and more. 
       The 2006-07 Ella schedule
includes: Florida Stage (June 20-Sept. 3),
San Diego Rep (Sept. 9-Oct. 15), Arizona
Theater Company Nov. 25-Dec. 22
(Tucson) and Dec. 31-Jan. 28, 2007
(Phoenix) and Feb. 2-11, 2007 (Mesa);
Cleveland Play House (March 23-April
15, 2007); Asolo Theatre in Sarasota,
FL (May 9-June 3, 2007), San Jose Rep
(June 23-July 22, 2007) and Barrington
Stage Co. (Aug. 9-27, 2007).
 
      
ITTY BITTY BITS: Rockwilder launches
RocBattle.com; Roker unwilling to play
nice; Hot 97 strikes back at building
owners.

      *Producer Rockwilder has launched
a new Web site designed to assist
aspiring producers in selling their beats.
RocBattle.com, a collaboration
with Trailblaze Studios, allows music
makers the chance to show off their
work and hopefully, pocket some money
in the process. The site will also
keep track of the producers' sales and
include their beat ratings, stats and
rankings. "Technology has allowed lots
of hip hop talent to prosper in
unconventional ways and now I'm using
the advancements of it to help music
producers get some shine," Rockwilder
said in a statement.

      *There is such a thing as red carpet
etiquette, but Al Roker apparently doesn't
have it. The weatherman for NBC's "Today
Show" did a no-no while working the
premiere of "Mission: Impossible III" on
Wednesday when he reportedly grabbed 
filmmaker Ken Burns away from an interview
he was doing with ABC News radio's David
Blaustein. "I never pulled him away
from anyone. He was right there," Roker
argued, according to the New York
Post. However, a witness, "Inside Edition"
reporter Kim Dean, says Roker
"actually reached his arm around him
and just took the interview away.
Later, he gave David a wink and wave.
I think he realized he wasn't
practicing good red-carpet etiquette."

       *The owners of New York radio
station Hot 97 filed a breach-of-contract
lawsuit Friday against their landlord, the
Carpenters Union Pension Fund, reports
the Associated Press. As previously reported,
the Fund filed suit to evict the embattled
urban station because a number of
related shootings and bomb threats have
left other tenants in the building
afraid for their safety.
 
      
SPORTS BITS: NBA Playoffs on iTunes;
Ben Wallace/Chris Paul earn year-end
honors.

       *Recap versions of the 2006 NBA
playoff games will be available for
purchase at iTunes Music Store
(www.itunes.com) within 24 hours after
airing on their perspective NBA networks,
including ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBATV.
In addition to the 15 to 20 minute full
game recaps, fans will also be able to
purchase complete game replays of every
Finals game the day after they air
on ABC. In addition, TNT Sports will
provide more than 15 episodes of the
Emmy Award-winning studio show, "Inside
the NBA on TNT" that will feature
exclusive off-camera footage and interaction
between Charles Barkley, Kenny
Smith and Ernie Johnson. Episodes will also
include guest appearances by TNT
analysts Reggie Miller and Magic Johnson
and the host of NBA players and
legends who visit the set throughout the
Playoffs.

       *Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace
won the NBA's Defensive Player of
the Year award Monday for the fourth
time in five years for his ability to
do the impossible - shut down Shaquille
O'Neal and LeBron James. "It's
definitely a team award," said the 6-foot-9,
240-pound Wallace. "I'm only as
good as the guys that play in front of
me." San Antonio's Bruce Bowen
finished second in the voting, and Utah's
Andrei Kirilenko was third.
      
       *On Wednesday, New Orleans
Hornets point guard Chris Paul will be
crowned the NBA's Rookie of the Year,
an anonymous league-member told the
Associated Press Monday. Drafted from
Wake Forest as the No. 4 overall pick
in 2005, he ranked first in points (16.1),
assists (7.8), steals (2.2),
double-doubles (21), minutes played
(36.4) and triple doubles (2) during his
first year. "I couldn't have asked for a
better rookie season," Paul said
after the Hornets' season ended in
mid-April.
      
      
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
-- by Jewel Diamond Taylor

     What do you know and believe? That
is your guiding philosophy. How do you
feel?
     That is your attitude. Who do you trust?
That is where your faith resides.
     Who adds to your life? They will expand
your possibilities. Who drains you?
They can steal your joy, peace, health and
success. How do you spend your
time? That is your activity. Opportunities
are driven by your attitude and
actions.
     Faith without activity bears no fruit. You
only do what you know, feel and
trust. Sweet sleep comes from doing the
best you can.
     What could you become --- what could
you experience --- --- what could you
have if you really read, studied, dreamed,
saved, prayed, networked, asked
for help, got out of your comfort zone, used
your time wisely, served others
and gave your all?
     Procrastination is a thief. Things are
not  going to change unless you
change.
     Life is fragile, wonderful, short and
subject to change. Guard your wealth,
health and significant relationships
(personal and professional). Learn to
serve others and realize that confidence,
integrity and service to others
are a shortcut to increase. Discipline,
patience, prayer, planning,
perseverance and proactive activity
will pay off. Promise yourself you will
never give up.

- Jewel Diamond Taylor
Conference Keynote Speaker, Author,
Radio/TV personality, Founder of Women
on the Grow

Jewel Diamond Taylor's Speaking Calendar:

May 13 - Los Angeles - St. Matthew
Baptist Church Women's Day Brunch
Speaker; May 14 - Los Angeles - Hamilton
Methodist Church - Morning Service
Guest Speaker; May 20 - Arizona - Women -
CEO Network Retreat; May 27 -
Carson, CA - New Philadelphia AME Church
Women's Conference Breakfast
Keynote; May 27 - Lawndale, CA - Parents
and Community Forum at Leuzinger
High School; May 28 - San Bernardino, CA -
True Faith Christian Church
Women's Day Keynote Speaker.


CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
       May 9: Rapper Ghostface Killah of
Wu-Tang Clan is 36. Singer Tamia is
31. Actress Rosario Dawson ("Rent,"
"Josie and the Pussycats") is 27.
 
      
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
    The National Campaign for African-
American Entrepreneurs Executive
Marketing Group is comprised of
individuals who share a common goal:
enhancing the lives of others, having
family balance and achieving a secure
financial future.
(www.ymcnair.executivemarketinggrp.com) 
       Submit your favorite Web site to us
along with a 15-20 word (or less)
description to info@eurweb.com.      
 

BLACK HISTORY
       May 9, 1867: Sojourner Truth delivers
a speech to the First Annual
Meeting of the American Equal Rights
Association, championing for the rights
of all people.
(Source: www.BlackFacts.com)      
 
=================================
 

EUR FEEDBACK (MYfeedback@eurweb.com)

*Lynn B., Oakland, CA:

      "Mr. Ivory - you write like sister Nina

sings, and I gobble up your words like my
grandmama's teacakes. Not only that, but

you have the courage and passion to speak

on REAL things - self-love, community,

friendship, living ... I'm especially thankful

for your recent column about the 'immigration

issue' that affirms black folks' responsibility

to participate in the struggle for the empowerment

of our Latino brothers and sisters, and calls

us to focus our energies on healing our

communities as well. I dig you. You rock!

      For the gifts of memory, insight, and

encouragement I receive from your columns,

'thank you' is as inadequate a sentiment as

'Prince is a great musician,' but the English

language can be woefully limiting sometimes.

So, imagine the scope of Jacob Lawrence's

vision, Jimi Henrix's innovation, Bell Hook's

brilliance, Audre Lorde's courage, and Nelson

Mandela's fortitude, and you'll get a sense

of my immense respect for you.

      Thank you for using your voice and your

pen to illuminate, educate, and inspire!"

*Samuel (no city given):

      "This Master P issue is driving me nuts,

for the simple fact that his time is over and

now he is showing his dumb juvenile side

to him and how some people never grow

on the intellectual side of life. 

      His son Romeo should be reading and

aspiring to be the next scientist or something.

Being in the rap game and a teenager and you

have a beef? Please.  Master P is always going

at people trying to get attention. Remember

he went at Kanye during Katrina stating

the Kanye was trying to sell records. 

      As far as the rap world is concerned

give it up P you are finished; you made

money now you look like and ASS. Let

your son do something besides rap. Grow

and help change the world; be vocal on that

issue.   It is a shame to see and I am sure

Bow Wow (Master P's nemesis) has been

an ass, however black cards and bling

don’t make the man. 

      EUR, good true stories make the editors,

not the BS.  EUR, please use your public image

now at this point helps bring our people together

now.  We are struggling as a culture while other

cultures are striving and moving forward.  Let’s

stop this non-sense and find a solution

today right now.  Be proactive."

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